7 ways to raise your author platform through social media

7 Ways ….

Bay to Ocean 2017

…to raise your author platform through Social Media

…what you do in addition to writing to cultivate readership.

Think about how you got the readers you have.

Think about how you started following other authors

BTO 2017

Author Platform IS

Christina Katz, Get Known Before the Book Deal

Building your

• Listing your credentials• Providing your bio• Posting your resume• Directly selling your book or work• Nagging people to pay attention to you

BTO 2017

Author Platform is NOT

Christina Katz, Get Known Before the Book Deal

Building your

BTO 2017

“Author Platform grows out of you body of work”

~Jane Friedman – BTO October event

Raising your platform = raising your brand visibility

BTO 2017

Platform = Visibility

BTO 2017

Who is looking at you?

• Check out authors who are like you on Goodreads and Amazon

• Are there common threads of interest?

• What kinds of questions are readers asking them – or about them

• Are there parallel themes?

BTO 2017

Who is like you?

Amazon.com Author Pages

BTO 2017

Goodreads Author pages

BTO 2017

What do your readers associate with you?

Thriller, Children, Style, Romance, History, Humor, Hunting, Gardening, Family, Vacations, Fishing,

Authority, Niche

BTO 2017

Fiction Writers• Human theme – family,

redemption, abuse, survival

• Time Period

• History

• Location

• Something you researched

Find an interest related to your content

BTO 2017

Building AudienceNurture

Reward

Refer, Recommend

BTO 2017

Build a Community

Find niche conversations and build

BTO 2017

Success …

Advertise, crow, brag, beg, sell

BTO 2017

Failure …

• Articles• Video• Events • Speaking engagements• White papers• Free reports• Printed guides• Webinars

• Sponsorships• Press Coverage• Podcasts• Workshops / Seminars• Partnering• Newsletters

BTO 2017

Methods

Social Media

BTO 2017

7 Ways

1. Facebook – profile, groups, Facebook Live2. E-Newsletter3. Instagram4. Wattpad / Blogging5. Video6. Academia.edu7. Podcasting

BTO 2017

7 Ways to use Social Media

• Your Profile – daily post with theme• Being interactive• Keep a balance on content (political, controversial, cats)• Facebook Groups – build community• Facebook Live - storytelling• Facebook Pages - promote

BTO 2017

Facebook

• Keep it short and simple• Exclusive content• Share inks of interest• Use e-mail client• Have set format• Monthly is good – be consistent

BTO 2017

E-newsletter

• Search and use hashtags• Complete your “Story”• Consider a series• Run a contest• Team up with other writers

BTO 2017

Instagram

• Serial Content• Consumable content• Linked into e-Newsletter and Facebook

BTO 2017

Wattpad - Blogs

• Storytelling• Events• Interviews• Verbal blogging• Short – 2 minutes is ideal

BTO 2017

Video

• Upload papers• Research and discuss• Network

BTO 2017

Academia.edu

• Use Skype• Interview guests• Unique audience •

BTO 2017

Podcasting

• Keep all of work / platform engagements under the same name / brand• Develop niches and sub-niches• Watch others• Develop and leverage partnerships• Questions = areas of interest

BTO 2017

Tips…

1. Take inventory of your current digital assets2. Develop your platform focus(es)3. Choose 2 or 3 methods for raising your platform4. Leverage partnerships5. Have fun, enjoy your community

BTO 2017

What now?

BTO - 2017

mindie@travelhag.com

301.648.2010

Where’s Mindie?

Travelhag.comThinplacestour.com

Chesapeakeghosts.com